The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday announced the creation of a Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office that will oversee federal efforts to prevent terrorists from using chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons to attack the U.S. or its interests abroad.

"The United States faces rising danger from terrorist groups and rogue nation states who could use chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents to harm Americans," DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in a statement.

In a press release, the department said it is most concerned about nation-states being able to attain weapons of mass destruction by non-state actors.

"A terrorist attack using such a weapon against the United States would have a profound and potentially catastrophic impact on our nation and the world," the department stated.

Elaine Duke, who had been the acting DHS secretary until Nielsen was confirmed by the Senate this week, will speak about the new office at the Hudson Institute next week.